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The Netherlands draw against Germany

14 November 2012 23:32

The Netherlands have recorded a scoreless draw against Germany in Wednesday's international friendly at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Germany were the first team to threaten when Marco Reus escaped the attention of Ricardo van Rhijn after a good pass from Mats Hummels, but Kenneth Vermeer was alert and rushed off his line to collect the ball before the Borussia Dortmund star could pounce.

The visitors continued to be the better side of the two and came close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute.

Benedikt Howedes found Mario Gotze with a low cross from the right but Vermeer saved the forward's first attempt, while the John Heitinga blocked his second attempt.

Reus then opted to try his luck after Heitinga failed to clear a cross from the left, but his powerful shot from a narrow angle only hit the side netting.

Ilkay Gundogan had the best chance of the first half in the closing seconds of the first half and the midfielder indeed manage to beat Vermeer, however, Heitinga bailed out his goalkeeper and cleared the ball off the line.

Netherlands, meanwhile, struggled to created chances at the ArenA, and only Arjen Robben came close to opening the scoring for the hosts. The Bayern Munich man was unable to get his shot on target, though, after rounding Manuel Neuer, and the chance went begging.

The second half continued in very much the same vein as the first half, with the majority of the game contested in the middle of the pitch.

Louis van Gaal's men were the first to get a shot on target after the interval when Ibrahim Afellay tried his luck from long range, but his weak attempt was an easy easily handled by Neuer.

The Bayern goalkeeper was again called into action in the 76th minute after a good combination between Daryl Janmaat and Dirk Kuyt. The former fired in a well-placed shot at the near post, but Neuer pulled off a superb save to tip the ball wide.

Werder Bremen midfielder Eljero Elia then threatened for the Dutch with a powerful attempt after cutting in from the left, but his right-footed shot went high and wide.

Germany almost netted a winner well into stoppage time after Reus collected the ball on the edge of the area, however the former Monchengladbach player blasted his shot over the bar.

Netherlands' next match is the international friendly against Italy on February 6, while Germany lock horns with France the same day.